Ceri Jones: 10 years and 1000 concerts

Fri 16 Aug 2013

Our Projects Director, Ceri Jones, is leaving the OAE for new adventures today (insert very sad expressions from the office team). Here’s a little last blog from her, with some of her highlights from her time with us. Ceri – you will be much missed!

Choreography, cake & collaborations: why you should come to an Insight Club

Wed 2 Jan 2013

Have you stared longingly at our OAE Extras Pre-concert event series listing, and been gutted that you can’t make it along because a) you can’t get to the Southbank Centre by 5.45 because you have a full time job, or b) because in your hectic life it’s the choice between dinner before the concert and a bit of light learning, and quite frankly dinner always wins out?

Well, here’s your bit of New Year Luck. The OAE runs a series of Insight Clubs, which we have helpfully scheduled at the weekend, so you won’t be fighting against your dinner to come along. The sessions are longer, and we like to describe them as rather like a book club. Interaction and discussion between the audience and the speakers is encouraged!

On Sunday 13 January, we’ll be meeting Henri Oguike the brains (and feet) behind our choreographed version of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons that will take place in February. Henri will be joined by Dr Melissa Bianco Borelli, a lecturer in dance studies at the University of Surrey. The two of them will discuss the forthcoming collaboration – Henri’s approach to creating a work, the planning, the rehearsals, selecting the dancers, and how he anticipates working with the musicians. Hearing from the personality involved directly at the heart of the project brings an aspect of understanding and insight (hence the name of the event) far beyond what you may read in a concert programme.

Do come along and be part of the discussion. You even get a complimentary drink and a slice of cake to boot…

Previewing the Oguike Four Seasons

Mon 30 Apr 2012

One of my personal highlights of the forthcoming 2012-2013 season of concerts is our collaboration with choreographer Henri Oguike. He’ll be working with OAE leader (and soloist for this concert) Kati Debretzeni, on a very special presentation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in which we’ll be adding new, contemporary choreography to Vivaldi’s masterpiece.

The idea was Kati’s, who had wanted to add a dance element to Vivaldi’s piece, but crucially wanted herself and the Orchestra to be a bit more than a backing band for the dancers – the idea is to have at least some of the musicians take a more active role in the dance.

Anyway, the actual performances are quite a while away, on 8 February of next year, but Henri has already been busy, and a few weeks ago I was excited to be asked to a special showing of some of the early dance ‘sketches’.

We saw elements of each season, and I can honestly say it was thrilling; both a real privilege to see something in such an early stage of development, and also to see such incredible dancers really up close, in the confines of a studio. I think we’ll be in for a real treat come next February, and it’ll be great to see a piece of music which is sometimes as regarded as perhaps a little ‘naff’ (of course, it shouldn’t be) re-imagined in this way.

My colleague Megan also came along to the showing, and as a budding amateur photographer, she took some great pictures of the event, so you can get at least some flavour of what went on.

Performances are on 8 Feb 2013 at 6.30pm and 8.30pm in the Queen Elizabeth Hall and tickets are already on sale.

We will of course be posting further updates as the project develops – so watch this space!